GN’R Guitarist: ‘Just Forget About a New Record’

Guns N' Roses guitarist Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal knows what you're going to ask, and he's tired of answering the question. During a live chat (March 2), the question of when fans can expect to hear new music from the band came up again, and Thal didn't mince words: "You know what?! Just forget about a new record until it happens. I mean, I can't even begin...How long have we been talking about a new f---ing record?"

Continued Thal, "And I'm the only that doesn't bulls--- you people about it and I say, no, we haven't been in the studio together; no, we haven't started writing together as a band. If something came out at this point, it would be very old material that is just being released now. So it would be unheard material, but to me, I don't consider that a new record, I consider that just releasing old material from a band that doesn't exist anymore. And we need to make an album of this band right now."

As it turns out, he's shared his feelings with GNR's mercurial mastermind, Axl Rose -- recently, in fact. "I hit up Axl again two days ago. I was, like, 'Hey, while we're in Australia, let's make some music. Let's work on some stuff.' But we'll see what happens. I'm all about making music; that's why I make music -- to make music. So I'd like to really do that.I would be very happy if Guns N' Roses could do that. We'll see what happens. That's all I can say."

Well, not quite all. As he went on, Thal sounded more like a guy who's chafing under his band's infamously glacial creative pace. "I mean, at this point, we're just doing shows and doing shows and doing shows," he pointed out. "And the shows are great and we're having fun and everything. But I've got the itch. I've had the itch for a long f---ing time. I wanna make some music with these mother---ers. It's a damn good band and we should really have the opportunity to give what we can to all of you, and make some music for you."

But ultimately, to be totally blunt, "As far as seeing a new album in the future, I don't see it in the near future, no," Thal concluded. "It's gonna be a while -- if it's gonna be with this band writing from the beginning...I wish I had something better I can tell you, guys, because we all want the same thing -- we want new music; me and you."